Journalist Michael West writes: “There is one class of people in Australia which transcends political parties, dominates the business world and is the key to getting rich. That is, mates. Working hard is good, watching Anthony Robins tapes might help, but if you really want to get ahead, say Dr Cameron Murray and Professor Paul Frijters in their new book, ‘Game of Mates’, find yourself some good old mates. This is a tale of feather-nesting mates who skim billions from Australia’s economy to line their own pockets. Whether it’s property, mining, infrastructure or banking, the mates have their snouts firmly in it, helping themselves to a large chunk of Australia’s economic pie.

Economist Cameron Murray talks about his new book Over the past few years, the cosy corporate and political power structures of Australia have been brought under the public spotlight for all to see. The tax avoidance of multinationals is no longer hidden. Nor is the cartel power granted to the major banks. The privatisation of core government functions has become widely criticised and the dodgy public-private partnerships that provide free public guarantees of private returns are out in the open and are now hotly debated. As is the massive clean-up cost of Australian mine sites.

Cameron Murray writes: In my new book, Game of Mates: How favours bleed the nation, written jointly with Professor Paul Frijters, I take a rigorous economic lens to this problem and try and unpick exactly what it takes for well-connected insiders to siphon off the country’s wealth. The game of grey corruption we are seeing – which is unethical, yet often very much legal – is a play for an unearned part of our shared wealth that takes place deep in the halls of Australia’s largest companies, and in our parliaments.”

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THE LEAGUE’S FREEDOM CAMPAIGN

No political movement can exist in a moral vacuum, and Australians have traditionally accepted that it is the Christian Faith that generated our heritage of representative government. While the League maintains a small full-time staff primarily motivated by Christian service, it is the extensive network of volunteers from all walks of life who form the backbone of the Movement.

The League of Rights seeks to help create a body of dedicated men and women who serve not for their own material gain, but as custodians of those truths and values which must form the basis of all successful efforts to defeat the enemies of human dignity and freedom.

The League encourages and equips individuals to independently exercise their own initiative in the service of freedom.